The Irish Research eLibrary (IReL) today announced the publication of the OA2030: Assessing Pathways to 100% Open Access by 2030 report, a major strategic analysis scoping various pathways to realising a sustainable and inclusive pathway to opening and maximising the impact of Irish research.
The study outlines how IReL and other stakeholders must act to put in place a strategy to ensure sustainability and inclusivity to 2030 and beyond.
Developed with the input of the IReL Advisory Committee, the report makes clear that without significant interventions Ireland is unlikely to meet the 2030 target while controlling costs. Up to now, Ireland has made extraordinary advances in open access through transformative agreements with publishers. However, soaring article processing and subscription prices and restrictive repository embargoes imposed by publishers have slowed progress in open access.
To meet these challenges, the report provides evidence-backed recommendations for how 100% open access can be achieved. These can be summarised into four overarching recommendations:
- Reduce volume dependence of future costs in the publishing services portfolio.
- Pursue volume-independent financial models on which costs do not vary directly with the volume of publications. Continue to develop a research culture which prioritises quality over quantity of publications.
- Invest in low-cost routes to open access; including strengthening secondary publication rights retention and investing in diamond OA publishing.
- Further develop and maintain a strong financial and performance monitoring programme to track progress towards sustainable 100% open access and the effectiveness of interventions.
Implementing these recommendations will require the coordinated activity of all stakeholders in Irish research. Professor Eeva Leinonen, President of Maynooth University and Chair of the IReL Governance Committee says of the report,
“Ireland has made significant progress in opening up access to research, and our ranking as number one globally in the 2025 ESAC Market Watch reflects the considerable work undertaken across the sector. But further progress is needed if we are to achieve 100% open access by 2030, as set out in the NORF Action Plan. Drawing on IReL’s considerable expertise and strong monitoring capability, this major new study provides a robust evidence base for the actions and pathways needed to achieve that ambition sustainably and inclusively. The recommendations set out in the report will be an essential guide in the years ahead for all stakeholders in a thriving and impactful Irish research ecosystem.”
The report was developed by the IReL Executive, IReL’s Governance and Advisory Committees and our consulting partners at Sesame Open Science, and is now available to download at https://zenodo.org/records/23083466.